Window-cleaning device.



J. J. TRACY.

WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1. 1914.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- Ill/4 T O F/VEVQS JS ill. TRACY, 0F CLEVELAND, UHIO. C

MOW-CLEANING DEVICE.

To all whom git may concern:

Be it lmown that l[, Jams J. TRAoY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Window-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that prin ciple, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improved cleaning device,-

there is little likelihood of the various operative parts getting out of order, while the device will be as unobtrusive as possible when not in use. I

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then consists of the .means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but two of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device'shown as transverse sectional view of a portion of" to device taken on the plane indicated by F. 1; 6 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, TWL5.

Application filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,171.

such portion taken at. right angles to the plane of said Fig. 5; Fig. is a vertical section through the wiper; and Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding with Figs. 1 and 2, but showing a modified construction.

The principal operative element in the device consists of a spindle 1, which is journaled in a suitable bearing member 2, presently to be described,-and which carries at its inner end an operating handle 3, and at its outer end a lever arm 4, both said handle and arm being pinned-to the spindle and being preferably disposed parallel to each other. The bearing member 2, in which the' spindle 1 is thus journaled, constitutes a part of a clamping device, the other part 5 of such device being arranged to fit more or less' loosely over said member 2 and to contact with a lug 6on the upper face-of said member, that serves as a fulcrum point in connection with the clamping action of the device. Said member 2 is provided with two downwardly extending lugs, or feet 7, and said member 5 with two corresponding feet 8, the arrangement and disposition of these feet being such as to cause them to engage the inner side of a Wind shield frame A, when the bearing member 2 rests on the top of such frame, the feet being respectively formed with sharp corners that will bite into the material of the frame, when the members are drawn together. To thus draw said members together two bolts 9 are uti-' lized, one on each side of the extended por-' tion of member 2, which forms the bearing proper for the spindle 1. The member 5 is also provided with an outwardlyextending stud 10 to which is pivotally attached the upper end of a rod 11, that slidably fits with-' in the tubular back 12 of the wiping device or cleaner, proper. The construction of the latter is shown in detail in Fig. 5 from which it vwill be seen to comprise in addition to such tubular back, a shell 13 that surrounds said back and is formed with lips 14: between which is held a strip of rubber 15, such as is regularly used in cleaning devices of the kind in hand. This strip of rubber is not so tightly held but that it Will be easily forced back until its rear edge contacts throughout its entire length with the tubular back, thus lnsuring the alinement of its exposed or wiping edge. At a central point the tubular back 12 is provided with a threaded stud 16 which is conveniently riveted to said back, as shown in Fig. 5,

and extends through an opening in theshell 13. This stud engages'an aperture 17 in-the outer end of the arm 4, a nut 18, which is secured in desired position by a second or look nut 19, serving to press the cleaning device away from said lever-end, so as to impose any desired degree of pressure on the surface of the glass pane a of the wind shield. The aperture 17 in the end of the arm is elongated lengthwise of the arm as shown in Fig. 6, and the inner surface of such end, which rests against the nut, is rounded, so that the stud can oscillate and thus cause the cleaning device to rest with an equal pressure throughout-its length on the pane.

The mode of operation of the foregoing I described cleaning device should be readily apparent. By swinging the handle 3, the.

arm 4 is caused to swing through a corresponding arc, carrying with it the cleaning device proper, which is held in a substantially parallel relationship to said arm by virtue of the slidable engagement of the rod 11 with the back of the device. Owing, however, to the fact that the pin 10, about which such rod is pivotal, is eccentrically disposedwith respect to the spindle 1, being located directly below the latter, it will be seen that when the arm 4 is swung as far as possible to the right or left, the cleaner will be brought up substantially. parallel with the under side 'of the wind shield frame, where it may be left out of the way and comparatively inconspicuous.

To aflix the device it is merely necessary, with the parts preliminarily assembled, to place the devicelaterally on the edge of the wind shield frame in approzn'mately the position shown in Fig. 1, except that the handle is turned to dispose the wiper horizontally and the clamp deviceis tilted so that the axis of the spindle slopes slightly downward toward the front, that is toward the side of the wind shield with which the wiper contacts. Without drawing up the bolts 7 too tightly at first, the handle is then operated to sweep the cleaning device across the wind shield pane into vertical position. This automatically adjusts the spindle 1 into a position at right angles to said pane; thereupon the bolts 11 are tightened until the feet 7 and 8 bite into the frame of the wind shield sufiiciently to prevent the position of the clamping device from being changed. After the device has been attached to the frame, the amount of pressure to be exerted by the wiper against the pane can be varied by adjustment of the nut 18, as will be readily understood.

The modified construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is adapted for use in connection with a wind shield having a wooden instead of a metallic frame, or for attachmeut to the'sash of a regular window, as

lugs 22 along its top and bottom edges adapted to contact with the one face of such frame; and the opposed clamp member 23 is likewise in the form of a plate that fits around the bearing portion of member 21, and is provided with lugs 22 adapted to contact with the opposite face of the frame A. Bolts 24, as before, serve to draw the two members tightly against the frame, such 4 bolts being drawn up a trifle loosely at first, until the axis of the spindle has been brought into proper angular relation to'the plane of the glass a by oscillating the wiper across such glass.

The construction of the Wiper 'and the manner of operatively connecting the same to the lever arm 4 are the same as in the first described construction, the plate 23 being provided with a stud 25 corresponding with stud 10, the other corresponding parts being lettered as before. Instead, moreover, of puttinga handle on the inner end of the spindle 1, a duplicate arm 26 may be provided, carrying a wiper corresponding in all respects with the one on the outside of the pane, and this arrangement 1s illustrated in Fig.8, the plate 21 attached to the bearing member being provided w1th a stud- 27 similar to stud 25, as shown. With such device, the operator may simultaneously clear the pane on both sides, as 1s frequently desirable in the case of the glass fronts of a'motormans cab, the frost that collects on the inside of the window be ng as objectionable as snow or rain collecting on the outside. The inner lever arm in thls construction obviously serves also as the operating handle, and will be so consldered for the purpose of the claims.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed lnstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly polnt out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clamp adapted to be secured to the edge of a wind-shield, said clamp being formed with a transversely disposed bearing; spindle rotatable m such bearing; an operating handle on one end of said spindle; an arm on the other end of said spindle; a Wiper pivotally attached, at a point between its ends, to said arm; and a rod pivotally attached to said clamp and having a sliding engagement Withthe adjacent end of said Wiper.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clamp adapted to be secured to the edge of a Wind-shield, said clamp being formed With a transversely disposed bearing; a spindle rotatable in such bearing; an operating handle on one end of said spindle; an arm on the other end of said spindle; a Wiper having a tubular back; a stud projecting from such back and pivotally attached to said arm; and a rod pivotally attached to said clamp and slidably fitted in one end of said wiper back,

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clamp adapted to be secured to the edge of a Wind-shield, said clamp being formed with a transversely dis posed bearing; a spindle rotatable in such bearing; an operating handle on one end of said spindle; an arm on the other end of said spindle; a Wiper pivotally attached to said arm and having sliding and pivotal connection with said clamp; and means adapted to adjust the distance between said Wiper and arm.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a clamp adapted to be secured to the edge of a Windshield, said clamp being formed With a transversely disposed bearing; a spindle rotatable in such bearing; an operating handle on one end of said spindle; an arm on the other end of said spindle; a Wiper having a tubular back; a stud projecting from such back and pivotally attached to said arm; a nut threaded on said stud and adapted to adjust the distance between said Wiper and arm; and a rod pivotally attached to said clamp find slidably fitted in one end of such Wiper ack.

5.- In a device of the character described, the combination of a clamp adapted to be secured to the edge of a Wind-shield, said clamp being formed With a transversely disposed bearing; a spindle rotatable in such bearing; an operating handle on one end of said spindle; an arm on the other end of said spindle, said arm having an aperture near its end elongated lengthwise of said arm; and a Wiper having a projecting stud fitted in the aperture in said arm.

Signed by me, this 5th day of February, 1914.

JAMES J. TRACY.

Attested by D. T. DAVIES, JNo. F. OBERLIN. 

